Living Cost Compare
Aurora

Illinois

$1,420/mo est.

vs
Bridgeport

Connecticut

$1,460/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,420 in Aurora, IL versus $1,460 in Bridgeport, CT. Overall, Aurora, IL is roughly 3% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Bridgeport, CT, driven mainly by electricity costs.

Median household income is $90,109 in Aurora, IL and $56,584 in Bridgeport, CT — about 37% higher in Aurora, IL. Illinois has a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax; Connecticut has a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax.

Aurora, IL
Bridgeport, CT

Rent

Studio
$893
$950
+6% in Bridgeport, CT
1 Bedroom
$1,183
$1,181
+0% in Aurora, IL
2 Bedroom
$1,550
$1,508
+3% in Aurora, IL
3 Bedroom
$1,797
$1,639
+9% in Aurora, IL

Buying a Home

Median Home Value
$260,400
$252,400
+3% in Aurora, IL

Income

Median Household Income
$90,109
$56,584
+37% in Aurora, IL
Metro Median Wage (annual)
$54,720
$61,470
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

People & Lifestyle

Median Age
35.2 yr
36.4 yr
+1.2 yr in Bridgeport, CT
Homeownership
66.8%
43.3%
+23.5 pp in Aurora, IL
Bachelor's+ (25+)
37.2%
23.1%
+14.1 pp in Aurora, IL
Avg Commute
28.0 min
29.9 min
+1.9 min in Bridgeport, CT

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime
269.4
401.7
+49% in Bridgeport, CT
Property Crime
1,247.4
1,478.4
+19% in Bridgeport, CT

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature
49.9°F
52.5°F
+2.6°F in Bridgeport, CT
Annual Precipitation
36.9 in
42.7 in
+5.8 in in Bridgeport, CT

Gas

Regular Gasoline
$3.94/gal
$3.86/gal
+2% in Aurora, IL

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs East Coast (PADD 1).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)
23.9
27.4
+15% in Bridgeport, CT
Natural Gas ($/MCF)
$15.39
$23.33
+52% in Bridgeport, CT

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)
$4.31
$4.31
about equal
Bread (lb)
$1.66
$1.92
+16% in Bridgeport, CT
Eggs (doz)
$3.63
$2.19
+40% in Aurora, IL
Ground Beef (lb)
$6.77
$6.90
+2% in Bridgeport, CT
Chicken (lb)
$2.10
$2.19
+4% in Bridgeport, CT
Bananas (lb)
$0.62
$0.69
+12% in Bridgeport, CT

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (IL / CT)
6.25%
6.35%
+0.1 pp in CT
Income Tax (top rate)
4.95%
6.99%
+2.0 pp in CT

Aurora vs Bridgeport — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Aurora or Bridgeport?
Aurora, IL is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $1,420 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 3% below Bridgeport, CT's $1,460, mainly because of electricity costs.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Aurora than in Bridgeport?
To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $47,000 a year in Aurora versus $47,000 in Bridgeport.
Which has lower taxes, Aurora or Bridgeport?
Aurora is taxed under Illinois's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.95% and a 6.25% state sales tax); Bridgeport under Connecticut's (a top state income tax rate of 6.99% and a 6.35% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).